Rivals row over top Afghan defense posts as Taliban goes on attack

(Reuters) - Seven months after rival leaders finally agreed to share power, Afghanistan has no permanent defense minister and cannot decide who should run the army, threatening to weaken the war against Taliban militants on the offensive after foreign troops left.

Deadlock over choosing the minister and army chief of staff is the latest sign of tension in the government of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who fought a bitterly contested presidential election last year.

The president's office said the delay in new leadership was not hurting the war effort, and that the last administration's chain of command was handling military operations.

"We are sure there's not a problem with morale in the armed forces personnel," said Ajmal Abidy, Ghani's spokesman.  Read More

Rivals row over top Afghan defense posts as Taliban goes on attack

U.S. woman shot and wounded in Pakistan by men claiming to be militants